3 R’s - Reading, Writing, ‘Rithmatic and Running

For information about this school for the gifted or to make appointment for gifted seminar & classroom observation, contact Donna Coffin, at info@steppingstoneschool.org or call (248) 957-8200.

Third grader Nicholas Paulken was runner of the month at Steppingstone School for Gifted Education, where they put “running” right up there with the three “R’s” of Reading, Righting and ‘Rithmatic.

All students at the school for the gifted in Farmington Hills take part in a daily running program, said Head of School Kiyo Morse.

Not only does the school include running as part of the core curriculum, teachers integrate running into the other subjects to keep it interesting and challenging, and Morse points out, it doesn’t require much investment in equipment and gear to establish a running program.

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In fact, the school has no running track. They run five laps around the playground five times, which equals about one mile, just before lunch every day.

“At a time when most parents, teachers and physicians are concerned about childhood obesity, diabetes, and lack of exercise, Steppingstone School is teaching their students how to be healthy, and making it fun,” Morse said in a news release.

There has been much publicity over First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign against obesity.

In addition, The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, according to its website.

And Kids Health advocates for daily exercise on its website. The organizations says, “Kids who are active will: have stronger muscles and bones, have a leaner body, be less likely to become overweight, decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, possibly lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, and have a better outlook on life.”

On its website, The Center for Disease Control also recommends the hour of exercise a day for the above reasons as well as for eliminating stress and anxiety and increasing self esteem.

The CDC encourages schools to “promote physical activity through comprehensive school physical activity programs, including recess, classroom-based physical activity, intramural physical activity clubs, interscholastic sports, and physical education,” to students in all grades.

Students at Steppingstone School are not graded on their running, but they are given rewards. Each student has a running card and receives a punch to track their laps up to five miles. When the card is full, students receive a colored foot charm and a number charm that shows how many miles they have run. After they finish the second card, a different kind of charm is awarded. And as they progress in the number of miles run, students can trade-up with their charms.

In fact, calculating the charms and miles and what it takes to trade up gives them some practice in mathematics.

The third level is a gigantic foot called a mega foot symbolizing 50 miles. Faculty Chair Keiko Morse developed the program and added the levels to keep it interesting for their students.

“Gifted kids need variety or they lose interest,” says Morse, “and this kept their interest more because they wanted to earn specific charms.“

On days when the weather doesn’t permit running outdoors, the children either run indoors, or “trade” jumping jacks or other exercises. For example, 150 jumping jacks can be traded for one mile of running.

Runners of the month, such as Nicholas, are recognized at a school assembly and in the school newsletter. Some children run 25 miles a months, which Morse calls “a notable achievement.